This week we look at the influence of Paul Ehrlich; the latest trendy virtue signalling – robbing supermarkets; Nicole Kidman at the Oscars; Pam Duncan-Clancey, Jeremy Balfour, Humza Yousaf and Joni Eareckson-Tada on Euthanasia; Iran and the death of Ali Larijani; Country of the Week – Ireland; Feedback; Greta and Cuba; BTS return to Seoul; the death of Len Deighton; Death of Chuck Norris; Grace Tame; Iranian women football players; Albo visits West Sydney Mosque; Peter Atkins and William Lane Craig; and the Final Word – Psalm 40; with music from Genesis, Clannad, the Cranberries, BTS, Christy Moore, and U2.
Here is the music used in this months podcast on Spotify….
Support Beauty for Ashes here….
Or 
Paypal: theweeflea@gmail.com
Catch up on last weeks episode here – Beauty for Ashes 22 – It’s a Mad World – including Mexico, Nepal, Iran and Scotland
Here is the local segment used on the radio show – we look at these issues from a local perspective
Hello, we listen to your podcast every week and love it! We agree with you on most things – but not kpop! If you really want to understand the appeal of BTS, could I suggest you watch the YouTube video on the meaning behind the BRS song “Spring Day”. There are a lot of very deep songs, but this one has a few explanations, this is a link for one of them
https://youtu.be/FrT4a_Fw6pE?si=5agvmP8mhyRaA013
Ok – I will repent – kind of on the next one….
Edit – BTS song Spring Day, not BRS (typo)
No one actually into kpop likes Dynamite 🙂
I enjoy and am blessed by your ministry – especially the burden for Scotland. However will take issue with the treatment of Ireland;
1. No mention of Northern Ireland. Church attendances during the Troubles peaked after Republician terrorists attacked the congregation at Mountain Lodge killing worshipers. But was the ‘revival’ people making a political statement as opposed to seeking God ? However church attendance and missionary work remains higher than GB. Coleraine to Ballymena is known as the ‘Bible belt’ – a legacy of the 1859 revival ? The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has severed its historic links with the apostate Church of Scotland – these links went back to 1642!
2. Post conflict we have seen a growth of nominalism – what we term cultural Protestants . You have the same in Scotland – they worship at Ibrox !
3. In the Republic, a falling away from Catholic church – prompted by the cover up of child abuse by clergy.
4. Christian emigration from West Africa has boosted Methodist and Penticostal churches in the Republic
Thanks Dr,
1. The country was Southern Ireland – Northern Ireland was featured as country of the week in episode 9 .
2. Agreed
3. Agreed
4. Agreed…same as the UK..
Dear Rev Robertson (David if I may?)
First apologies, for missing the entry on ‘Norn Iron’ (Ulster) in episode 9. A little disappointed you didn’t share the music of two for our wee country’s most gifted singer-song writers. My Sunday School teacher in Trinity PCI , Ballymoney was one John Keith Getty – his grandson Keith has written a decent hymn or two (In Christ alone), and in Belfast was have Robin Mark (Days of Elijah) . The latter was the ‘National Anthem” for the Ulster mafia at All Nations (Ware).
Ulster Protestants as you later comment don’t fit the Irish stereo type. We have crossed the shuch (Irish Sea ) many times in both directions. We have still enough demographic to host large Reformed summer gatherings – New Horizion and the Portstewart/Filey convention. Yes, we have lost many nominal members with secularisation, but there is a strong remnant of young active believers. If we have one weakness it is the shallow ministry of atonement – as opposed to discipleship . But then John Calvin noted the same problem in post reformation Geneva !
If you were a regular listener to the show you would know that I feature the Gettys more than any other singer songwriter (I was also an advisor for their new hymn book)….!
Aman ! – so let it be.